It feels like a long time since my last blog and this one. A manic work schedule, Christmas, norovirus, and New Year (pretty much in that order) have kept me away from my laptop. All that, coupled with a lull in Stage One adoption proceedings, has meant that there’s been little to write about that you’d want to read – trust me you don’t want to hear about our norovirus experience!

However, it has given me a chance to look back on 2015 and to look forward to what’s hopefully going to happen in 2016.

So, 2015… All in all it’s been a really good one. We’ve both been busy with work (for two freelancers that’s nothing short of a miracle), we got the house refurbished and decorated (whilst managing to agree on colours, fabrics and furnishings without too many arguments), it being the year of 40ths (and a surprise wedding) we’ve actually seen way more of our friends this year than we have for ages which has been brilliant, our families are all well and healthy, and we’re happy. Not a bad year in anyone’s book.

All year, at one event or another, I couldn’t help but think that the “next time we do this we might have our children”. Particularly around Christmas and New Year, it’s been difficult not to think about how different life will be this time next year. As a result, Tom and I went away to a posh hotel for Christmas by ourselves telling our families “this might be our last chance to do it” (we had an amazing time and I’m gutted I never agreed to do it sooner), our families have talked about the extra seats we’ll need for Christmas lunch next year (the venue of which has already been agreed upon!), and I’m preparing myself for the fact that Christmas may have to be scaled back from the madness I usually insist on!

So what’s in store for 2016? In a perfect world Tom and I will sail through Stage Two, matching will be a breeze, and we’ll be joined by our children at some point around September. Oh, and World Peace will be achieved by Easter. In reality we’re both very much aware that the hard work starts now as Stage Two hopefully begins very soon alongside so much else to think about…

Work for me is going to be interesting as I’ve elected to take at least the first year off to look after the children. So far I’ve taken on work up until June. I’ll need work beyond that but for how long? I don’t want to take on a project and then have to back out at the last minute and piss off future employers.

The two spare rooms that Tom and I are happily occupying at the moment will have to be redecorated and furnished for two children rather than being used as our office/den/music room/play room (delete as appropriate). This also means that Tom will either have to find somewhere to work outside the house or find a way of working through the noise of two children (and me).

Our friends and family have been getting increasingly excited about the arrival of the children. Quite how they’re going to cope for the rest of the year is going to be interesting and that hasn’t taken into account how excited Tom and I are. I’ve already found myself having to manage people’s expectations about adoption. Like me, before I read books and attended the training days, most people assume bringing up our children will be same as how they bring up theirs. That our children’s behaviours will be the same as their children. Hopefully it won’t be too different but it’s better to start sowing the seeds now just how different it might all potentially be. In fact we gave both our parents a copy of Related by Adoption, by Hedi Argent, as part of their Christmas presents in an effort to make their expectations more realistic.

As with every New Year we’re full of hope for what’s in our future. Fingers crossed that it involves the patter of little feet…